Exhausted Syrians call for removal of crossings in opposition-controlled areas Crossings between the areas under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-allied FSA factions are a burden on civilians, who feel like they are traveling from one state to another. By Sultan al-Kanj
Iraqi port revenue surges as anti-corruption move bears fruit Iraq’s key Umm Qasr Port has been positively affected by measures to reduce corruption, leading to a massive revenue increase in 2020 despite fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans for the massive, nearby Faw Port and an electronic system being put in place may also serve to shore up state coffers and reduce those of “outlaw” groups. By Shelly Kittleson
Why the sudden shift in Sudan’s position in Nile dam dossier? Sudan has recently shifted its position in the negotiations on Addis Ababa’s controversial dam on the Nile River, as Khartoum grows more concerned about the dam’s impact on its own dams and agriculture. By Baher al-Kady
Fears of Syrian government offensive mount in Idlib as Turkey withdraws from military posts Syrian opposition groups worry that the Turkish withdrawal signals a coming military offensive. By Khaled al-Khateb
Netanyahu lays out campaign for US to maintain course on Iran Israel is hoping that the new US administration will conduct an intimate strategic dialogue with Israel’s allies in the region before making a final decision on the Iran nuclear issue. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
UAE steps in to ease Nile dam crisis Sudanese reports recently revealed that the United Arab Emirates is seeking an initiative to bring the views of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia closer so as to break the deadlock in the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. By Ahmed Gomaa
Israel starts vaccinating prisoners after delay After Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit warned that keeping them lower in the queue was illegal, Public Security Minister Amir Ohana ordered the prison services to start vaccinating elderly inmates. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Israel provides Gaza with machines to extract water from air An Israeli firm donated generators producing drinking water from air to the Gaza Strip, which faces an acute water shortage crisis, amid controversy about cooperation between the two sides. By Entsar Abu Jahal
Israeli-Arabs divided on Netanyahu’s electoral blitz The visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Nazareth, with very little objection from local residents, reflected growing rejection within Israeli-Arabs of the Joint List party. By Afif Abu Much In Baqa al-Gharbiyye, reporting on business and tech
Qatar renews Gaza aid amid Gulf reconciliation Qatar has agreed to renew its grant to the Gaza Strip despite reconciliation with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which previously requested Doha cut ties with Hamas. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Will Syrian opposition benefit from recent Gulf detente? The Gulf reconciliation has sparked controversy in the opposition circles of northwestern Syria over its expected positive effects on the Syrian revolution and opposition. By Khaled al-Khateb
Egypt to start building high-speed railway from Red Sea to Mediterranean Egypt and German’s Siemens recently signed an agreement to start establishing a high-speed railway network connecting the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts, as part of Egypt’s efforts to develop its decaying sector. By Rasha Mahmoud
On Israel with Ben Caspit Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro: Biden to continue Abraham Accords’ momentum Ben Caspit
Turkish-Greek talks, all talk? Greece and Turkey will hold explanatory talks for the first time in years following the tensions that peaked last year between the regional rivals, although the two parties have yet to agree on the issues to be discussed. By Sean Mathews
Egypt dodges Trump’s ire as White House orders massive last-minute aid cuts The outgoing president initally sought to freeze US military aid to Egypt over its purchase of Russian military hardware. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Erdogan calls for 'positive steps' with Biden on F-35 program The Turkish president called Turkey's suspension from the F-35 program a "serious wrong" from a NATO ally. By Al-Monitor Staff